New Guardian Urged for Terri Schiavo, More Evaluation of Her Condition Needed

LifeNews.com ^ | December 2, 2003 | Steven Ertelt

[nickcarraway]

Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- An independent guardian appointed for Terri Schiavo told Governor Jeb Bush Tuesday that she deserves a permanent guardian other than her estranged husband Michael. He also claimed Terri is in a permanent vegetative state, but added that she should be re-evaluated by experts.

Under Terri's Law passed by the state legislature, an independent guardian was authorized to provide Governor Bush with recommendations about Terri's situation.

On October 31, Chief Pinellas-Pasco Chief Judge David Demers appointed Dr. Jay Wolfson, a professor of health and law at Stetson University in Florida, as Terri's guardian ad litem, despite the suggestion of bias from Terri's family.

Wolfson submitted a lengthy thirty-page report to Bush on Tuesday.

According to a source familiar with the report, Wolfson describes Terri as being in a persistent vegetative state. However, numerous doctors say otherwise and videos made by Terri's parents show her responding to doctors and her family.

Dr. William Hammesfahr, a neurologist from Clearwater, where Terri was hospitalized, is a recognized national expert on PVS and is a Nobel prize nominee. He says Terri's eyes clearly fixate on her family and she tries to follow the simple commands her parents give her.

"She looks at you, she can follow commands," Hammesfahr said.

Wolfson says Terri should be granted a permanent guardian other than Michael Schiavo. Among other concerns, Terri's family says has denied her appropriate medical and rehabilitative care he was obligated to provide from a medical malpractice award he received.

Wolfson also said medical experts should be brought in to evaluate Terri's cognitive function and her rehabilitative abilities.

Following the passage of Terri's Law, Wolfson told WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida: "If this law stands the constitutional test of the courts, then it certainly implies the executive of our state has the prerogative of injecting the state into your life, or your family member's life."

Pat Anderson, the family's attorney, later told LifeNews.com that they met with Wolfson and were "very hopeful he can get his work done in the thirty days given to him."

Related web sites:

Terri's family - http://www.terrisfight.org

[pollywog]

Amen

[FR_addict]

I can't get to this post. You can see that the article was posted earlier at the site, but now it seems to be blocked.

[msmagoo]

CNN - Florida's Bush gets report on Schiavo (12-1, no details on Wolfson's recommendations)

WFTV.com - Major Developments In Terry Schiavo Case Could Come Today (poll needs FReeping)

Lifenews.com article not found! see google search = Terri+Schiavo

Waiting for more news ~ checking WorldNetDaily

[Pegita]

+ To God be the Glory ...

[pickyourpoison]

A prayer answered, Thank You God

[msmagoo]

Keep praying! Just found this, it may explain why the LifeNews article is offline, if they are updating:

Governor's attorney blocked from taking depositions in Schiavo Case

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- A judge Tuesday blocked Gov. Jeb Bush's attorneys from questioning some potential witnesses in the legal battle over the life of a severely brain damaged woman.

Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael, is suing Bush in Pinellas Circuit Court over the constitutionality of "Terri's Law," the hastily passed measure which gave Bush the power to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube six days after her husband ordered it removed in October.

Michael Schiavo has said his wife, who is in a persistent vegetative state, did not want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents have waged a long legal battle to keep her alive.

Pinellas Circuit Court Judge W. Douglas Baird granted a motion by Michael Schiavo's attorney, stopping Bush's attorneys from taking depositions from seven people, including Michael Schiavo and the woman with whom he now lives.

Baird said that he may allow some questioning to take place later in the case.

[sam I am]

Amen.

[sweetliberty]

I swear, Baird is sounding as despicable as Greer. By the way, any word on when the guardianshiop hearing is supposed to take place?

[FR_addict]

Thanks for the updates.
It's strange about the LifeNews article.
if you go here, you will see where nic orginally got the article:
http://www.lifenews.com/bioethics.html

But you can't get to it anymore. Hopefully they are just updating it as you suggest.

"Baird said that he may allow some questioning to take place later in the case."

I like the comment in your article. I bet if we keep sending him email, letters, and phone calls, he will let the questioning proceed. Why else would he say - "maybe later". He wants to see if the public is aware of what he does.

[FR_addict]

I hope the LifeNews story was correct. It sounds like if it is, Judge Greer will have to make a decision in the case, whether to appoint a new guardian or not.

If Judge Greer does the right thing, then I wouldn't think it matters what Judge Baird decides to do in Terri's case, assuming the new guardian wouldn't try to kill her off. It would matter in other cases though and I hope they settle it, but if Michael S. is no longer the guardian, I don't see how he can be the plaintiff in the case.

[pollywog]

I hope the LifeNews story was correct. It sounds like if it is, Judge Greer will have to make a decision in the case, whether to appoint a new guardian or not.

How soon would this have to be done??

[Old Professer]

It's very bad form to come late, and declare the party a flop.

[trussell]

I think the "maybe later" comment is just his way of trying to show that he is not biased.

I don't believe that he has any intentions of letting the Gov question witnesses. It would make it possible for the truth to come out, and that is the last thing they want to happen.

[pickyourpoison]

I hope he knows the world is watching him.

[Canadian Outrage]

PRAISE THE LORD!!! HE is at work.

[msmagoo]

These CLOWNS are trying to kill someone! Stop them!
Bush is going to appeal (IMO) he has the right to depose witneses as a defendant. He does not have to take what MS gives him from the previous litigation as 'fact' because the facts are disputed by family members who are parties to the previous litigation (Greer), and Bush was neverinvolved with the pervious litigation, other than submitting the Friend of the Court brief.

Bush should not be denied the right to properly defend himself. He will probably ask Baird to remove himself for bias again.

[msmagoo]

sorry about the spelling...forgot to proofread!

[Graymatter]

http://www.wftv.com/news/2676942/detail.html

Not good news.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- A judge Tuesday blocked Gov. Jeb Bush's attorneys from questioning some potential witnesses in the legal battle over the life of a severely brain damaged woman. .. Pinellas Circuit Court Judge W. Douglas Baird granted a motion by Michael Schiavo's attorney, stopping Bush's attorneys from taking depositions from seven people, including Michael Schiavo and the woman with whom he now lives. Baird said that he may allow some questioning to take place later in the case.

[pollywog]

These CLOWNS are trying to kill someone! Stop them! Bush is going to appeal (IMO) he has the right to depose witneses as a defendant. He does not have to take what MS gives him from the previous litigation as 'fact' because the facts are disputed by family members who are parties to the previous litigation (Greer), and Bush was neverinvolved with the pervious litigation, other than submitting the Friend of the Court brief.

Bush should not be denied the right to properly defend himself. He will probably ask Baird to remove himself for bias again.

has there been yet, another ruling today? did I miss something?

[pollywog]

found what you were referring to msmagoo. Sigh!!